MANILA: The Defence Department is looking into a report that the US has used the Philippines as a spying hub in the region even as it claimed that it has not detected signs that would confirm it.
“We are having it (report) checked by our intelligence community,” Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told reporters yesterday. “We are talking about that, whether it is being felt or if something is happening. So far, we have not seen signs,” he added.
Earlier, Australian media reported that the US had used the Philippines as a “listening post”.
Australia’s ABC News said the US had set up surveillance facilities in Manila and other areas in Asia.
“A secret map released by (Edward) Snowden revealed the US had also set up surveillance facilities in embassies and consulates, including in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Yangon, Manila, Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai and Beijing,” ABC said, referring to the former American intelligence operative who had leaked sensitive information to the media.
Previous reports also cited secret documents about a US surveillance programme that has been monitoring German Chancellor Angela Merkel since 2002.
Malacañang has declined to comment, noting the matter is within the purview of the defence and foreign affairs departments.
“That report was apparently taken from published news items and it would not be appropriate for me to make an official comment at this time,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio said.
The Philippine star
